Paint can attachment



Aug. 6, 1957 avian 1'01! Mum/n ,4. Ai'llfk roar United States Patent PAINT CAN ATTACHMENT William A. Atherton, Minneapolis, Minn,

Application September 23, 1954, Serial No. 457,919

8 Claims. (Cl. 2204) This invention relates to paint can attachments. More particularly it relates to paint can attachments for facilitating the pouring and mixing of paint from and within paint cans.

Present day painting equipment and methods present a number of annoying problems insofar as mixing of the paint and pouring it out of the can in which it is sold is concerned. In attempting to mix a full can of paint, it is almost impossible to vigorously stir the contents of the can without some of the paint splashing up and over the opening-defining portions of the can. This makes the can messy when it is necessary to replace the cover upon the can. Also when paint is poured out of a full can it is impossible to do so without some of the paint remaining on the opening-defining portions of the can and running therearound in the groove provided to retain the paint can cover. Thereafter when the cover is replaced the paint will squirt outwardly with the result that the entire can is messy and diflicult to handle. My invention is directed toward eliminating these annoying problems.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved paint can attachment of inexpensive and simple construction and operation.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved paint can attachment, which in addition to being simple and inexpensive in construction, will facilitate the mixing of paint within the container in which it is sold and the pouring of such paint outwardly therefrom.

A still more specific object is to provide a novel and improved paint can attachment which will enable the painter to mix paint within the original container in which the paint is sold without spilling a portion of the same over the opening-defining portions of the can and will enable him to pour the paint from such a can while it is full without leaving some of the paint upon the opening-defining portions of the original container.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention attached to a paint can in position to be used in conjunction therewith with a portion of the cloth strainer cutaway.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along approximately line 22 of Fig. 1.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 1-2 attached to a conventional paint can indicated generally by the letter P. The conventional paint can P has an opening 3 at the top and has opening-defining portions 4 within which there is formed an upwardly facing circular groove 5. This groove 5 normally extends entirely around the opening-defining portions 4 of the paint can P and is adapted to cooperate with the paint can cover to retain the latter so as to prevent from escaping from the pail.

ICC

As best shown in Fig. 2 my attachment indicated generally as A may be formed integrally and is preferably made of a resilient material such as polyethylene. Of course, the entire attachment may be constructed of a number of members which are connected to each other in any desired manner. However, the attachment includes a ringshaped member 6 which is adapted to be superimposed upon the opening-defining portions 4 of the paint can P in close-fitting covering relation. This ring-shaped member 6 is characterized by a circular depending rib 7 which extends around the length of the ring member 6 and is adapted to fit into the groove 5 in tight-fitting frictionally-engaging relation. This member 6 has an outer annular horizontally extending portion 8 and an inner annular horizontally extending portion 9. The inner annular portion encircles the opening 3 of the paint can P when the rib 7 is positioned within the groove 5 of the can.

Carried by the outer annular portion 8 of the ringshaped member 6 is a downwardly extending channel forming flange 10. This flange member 10 forms a channel with the downwardly extending rib 7, as best shown in Fig. 2, the channel engaging the upper and outer portions of the paint can P which define the groove 5. Carried by the lower portion of the flange member 10 is a circular inwardly extending lip 11 which engages the outer surface of the can P as best shown in Fig. 2 in frictionally-engaging relation.

Extending downwardly from the annular portion 9 of the ring-shaped member 6 is a channel-forming depending flange 12. This flange 12 is circular and forms a channel with the inner and upper portions of the rib member 7 to frictionally engage the inner and upper portions of the material forming the groove 5. Extending inwardly from the lower portion of the depending flange 12 is a horizontally extending flange 13. This flange also is circular in shape and carries at its inner portions an upwardly extending tubular member 14. As best shown in Fig. 2 this tubular member 14 tapers in diameter.

Provided with the paint can attachment A is a cloth strainer 15 which may be applied to the upper end of the tubular member 14 and held in place thcreacross by a split spring ring 16 which has hand engaging portions 17 and 18 extending outwardly therefrom so that they may be brought together to spread the ring prior to the application of the strainer cloth 15.

To apply the attachment A to a freshly opened can of paint P, the rib member 7 is merely snapped into place in the groove 5 with the circular flange 10 sliding downwardly around the outer surface of the paint can P. The lip 11 engages the outer surface of the paint can and together with the rib 7 positively secures the entire attachment to the can so that it will not be readily dislodged therefrom. The entire attachment is thus held in place by frictional engagement.

Once the attachment has but snapped into place as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is a relatively easy matter for the painter to mix the paint within the cam P without spilling portions of the paint over the opening-defining portions of the can. The added height which is provided to the can P by the attachment A precludes any messiness or any spilling of the paint which might normally be caused through normal mixing efforts. Since the can of paint is normally filled to the top, normal mixing elforts would otherwise cause the paint to overflow into the groove 5. The attachment A, however, effectively precludes such overflow and permits the painter to stir the contents of the can P with considerable vigor. In this manner there is a substantial saving in time and annoyance for otherwise the painter must be very careful in stirring a new can of paint. There is a tendency among painters to not stir a can of paint sufficiently because of the messiness involved when paint does overflow into the groove 5 when my attachment is not used.

With my attachment A secured to the opening-defining portion of a paint can P, a portion of the paint may readily and easily be poured out of the can without the opening-defining portions of the can being touched by by the paint. After the amount required has been removed from the paint can P, the upper edge of the tubular member 14 may be wiped off with the paint brush and then the attachment A may be lifted from the can P and the cover reapplied to the opening-defining portions thereof without any attendant messiness or smearing of these portions with paint.

\If the painter desires to strain the contents of the paint can P as is often the case when using inside enamel, the strainer cloth 15 is stretched across the upper open end of the tubular member 14 and is secured thereto by merely forcing the portions 17 and 18 of the split spring ring 16 together and moving the ring 16 into the position shown in Fig. 2. split ring will positively clamp the strainer cloth 15 across the opening of the tubular member 14 so that the paint may be strained therethrough.

Thus it may be seen that l have provided a simple and inexpensive attachment for a paint can which can be applied or removed quickly and easily. Since the entire attachment may be made of polyethylene, it may be made in large numbers and at relatively small cost. it will be seen that my attachment completely eliminates the messiness normally attendant with the mixing and pouring of paint from a new and full container.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a paint can having an opening at the top thereof and having a circular upwardly facing groove in the opening-defining portions thereof, a continuously formed ring-shaped member superimposed upon said opening-defining portions of said paint can and having outer annular portions and a circular depending rib extending downwardly into and frictionally engaging said groove in tight-fitting relation, said ring member having continuously formed annular inner portions disposed inwardly of its rib and surrounding the opening of said paint can and frictionally engaging the same, a channel forming member carried by said outer annular portions and extending downwardly therefrom to form an inverted channel adapted to engage the outer surfaces of such a paint can, and an upstanding tubular member mounted upon said inner portions of said ring-shaped member and extending upwardly therefrom and inwardly thereof whereby paint may be poured from said paint can through said tubular member without smearing the opening-defining portions of said paint can.

2. A paint can attachment for use in conjunction with a paint can of the type having an opening at the top, thereof and having a circular upwardly facing groove in the open-defining portions thereof, said attachment comprising a continuously formed ring-shaped member adapted to be superimposed upon the opening-defining portions of such a paint can in tight-fitting covering relation, said member having a circular depending rib extending downwardly therefrom and being adapted to fit into the groove of such a paint can in tight-fitting frictionally-engaging relation, said member having continuously formed ringlike inner portions disposed radially inwardly of and adjacent to said rib and engaging the opening-defining portions of said can, a depending resilient annular flange member carried by said ring-shaped member outwardly of said rib and in radially spaced relation thereto for resiliently engaging the outer surface of such a paint can, and an upstanding tubular member carried by said inner portions of said member and extending upwardly there- Upon release of the portions 17 and 18 the from whereby paint may be poured from such a paint can through said tubular member without smearing the opening-detining portions of the paint can when said rib is so fitted into its groove.

3. A paint can attachment comprising a continuously formed ring-like metnber having outer annular portions and an underside contoured to conform to the configurations of the upper surfaces of the opending-defining portions of a paint can so as to fit snugly thereinto in frictionally-engaging relation to hold said ring-like member in tight-fitting covering relation to the opening-defining portions, a depending resilient annular flange member carried by said outer annular portions and adapted to resiliently engage the outer surfaces of such a paint can, a generally horizontally extending circular flange mounted on said ring-like member and extending inwardly therefrom, and an upstanding tubular member mounted on the inner portions of said flange and extending upwardly therefrom whereby paint may be poured from such a paint can through said tubular member Without smearing the opening-defining portions of the paint can when said ring-like member is so held.

4. A paint can attachment comprising a circular continuously formed ring-shaped member made of resilient material and having outer annular portions and an underside contoured to form to the configurations of the upper surface of the opening-defining portions of a paint can so as to fit snugly thereinto in frictionally engaging relation to hold said ring-like member in tight-fitting covering relation to the opening-defining portions, a depending resilient annular flange carried by said outer annular portions and adapted to resiliently engage the outer surfaces of such a paint can, said member having a circular flange mounted thereon and extending generally horizontally inwardly therefrom, a vertically extending flange connecting said horizontal flange with said ringshaped member and adapted to frictionally engage the inner edge of the opening-defining portions of the paint can and an upstanding tubular member carried by said flange and extending upwardly therefrom, said tubular member being of a smaller diameter than said ring-shaped member whereby paint may be poured from such a paint can without smearing the opening-defining portions thereof.

5. A paint can attachment for use in conjunction with a paint can of the type having an opening at the top thereof and having a circular upwardly facing groove in the opening-defining portions thereof, said attachment comprising a continuously formed ring-shaped member adapted to be superimposed upon the opening-defining portions of such a paint can in tight-fitting covering relation, said member having a circularly arranged depending rib extending downwardly therefrom and being adapted to fit into the groove of such a paint can in tightfitting frictionally-engaging relation, a depending resilient annular flange member carried by said member in outwardly radially spaced relation to said rib and adapted to cooperatively engage therewith the side wall of such a paint can adjacent its opening, a circular flange member mounted on said ring-shaped member and extending inwardly therefrom adjacent to said rib, and an upstanding tubular member carried by the inner portions of said flange and extending upwardly therefrom whereby paint may be poured from such a paint can through said tubular member without smearing the opening-defining portions of the paint can when said rib is so fitted into its groove.

6. A paint can attachment for use in cooperation with a paint can of the type having an opening at the top thereof and having a circular upwardly facing groove in the opening-defining portions thereof, said attachment comprising a continuously formed ring-shaped member made of resilient material and adapted to be superimposed upon the opening-defining portions of such a paint can in tight-fitting covering relation, said member having a circular depending rib extending downwardly therefrom and being adapted to fit into the groove of such a paint can in tight-fitting frictionaily-engaging relation, said member having inner and outer annular portions flanking said rib, said inner portions being disposed radially inwardly of and adiacent to said rib, a downwardly extending circular flange made of resilient material and carried by the outer portions of said ring-shaped member and spaced outwardly of said rib, an inwardly extending circular lip carried by the lower end portions of said flange and adapted to engage the outer sides of such a paint can in tight-fitting relation when said ring-shaped member is superimposed upon the opening-defining portions thereof, and an upstanding tubular member carried by said inner portions of said ring-shaped member and extending upwardly therefrom whereby paint may be poured from such a paint can through said tubular member without smearing the opening-defining portions of the paint can when said rib is so fitted into its groove.

7. A paint can attachment for use in conjunction with a paint can of the type having an opening at the top thereof and having a circular upwardly facing groove in the opening-defining portions thereof, said attachment comprising a continuously formed ring-shaped member adapted to be superimposed upon the opening-defining portions of such a paint can in tight-fitting covering relation, said member having a circular depending rib extending downwardly therefrom and being adapted to fit into the groove of such a paint can in tight-fitting frictionally-engaging relation, said ring-shaped member having inner and outer annular portions at opposite sides of said rib, a channel-forming member carried by said outer annular portions and extending downwardly therefrom to form an inverted channel adapted to engage the outer surfaces of such a paint can, a second channel-forming member carried by said inner annular portions and extending only downwardly therefrom and forming an inverted channel with said rib adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the opening-defining portions of such a paint can, and a tubular member uonnected to the lower end portions of said second mentioned channel-forming member and extending upwardly therefrom whereby paint may be poured from such a paint can through said tubular member without smearing the opening-defining portions of the paint can when said rib is so fitted into its groove.

8. In combination with a paint can having an opening at the top thereof and having a circular upwardly facing groove in the opening-defining portions thereof, a continuously formed ring-shaped member superimposed upon said opening-defining portions of said paint can and having outer annular portions and a circular depending rib extending downwardly into and frictionally engaging said groove in tight-fitting relation, a channel-forming member carried by said outer annular portions and extending downwardly therefrom to cooperatively form an inverted channel with said rib adapted to receive and engage the outer surfaces of such a paint can, a flange member extending vertically only connected with said rib member and forming an inverted channel therewith constructed and arranged to receive therebetween and frictionally engage the opening-defining portions of said can, and an upstanding tubular member mounted upon the corner portions of said vertical flange and extending upwardly therefrom and only inwardly thereof whereby paint may be poured from said paint can through said tubular memher without smearing the opening-defining portions of said paint can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,847,245 Hothersall Mar. 1, 1932 1,865,736 Astley July 5, 1932 2,722,347 Henke Nov. 1, 1955 

